Understanding health insurance plans is very confusing for most consumers. It doesn’t matter whether you buying health insurance for the first time or just want to consider changing plans. We spoke to some of the industry experts and got answer to some of the most frequently asked questions.

What kinds of individual and family insurance plans are available?

There are three types of Individual and family health insurance plans described as either “indemnity”,”PPO” and “managed-care” plans. Put broadly, the major differences concern choice of healthcare providers, out-of-pocket costs and how bills are paid. Typically, PPO plans offer a broader selection of healthcare providers than managed care plans. Indemnity plans pay their share of the costs for covered services only after they receive a bill (which means that you may have to pay up front and then obtain reimbursement from your health insurance company).

There are several different types of health insurance plans. These include HMO, PPO, and POS plans. HMO’s are managed care as the insurance company determines who your doctors are and what care you will receive. POS plans are geographically focused plans that are a cross between a HMO and PPO. PPO’s make use of healthcare provider networks and you are free to choose your own doctors within the network. Healthcare providers within a network agree to perform services for PPO plan patients at pre-negotiated rates and will usually submit the claim to the insurance company for you. In general, you’ll have less paperwork and lower out-of-pocket costs with a PPO health insurance plan. You’ll have an even broader choice of healthcare providers with an indemnity plan because there is not network; it’s any doctor, any hospital, anywhere.

When can I start making appointments with my physician?

For individual insurance coverage, it depends on how long it takes for your enrollment papers to be processed through underwriting and how long it takes to review your medical records for preexisting conditions. It may take anywhere from two weeks to three months after you have submitted your enrollment paperwork plan carrier to complete underwriting. This delay depends on how long it takes to get records from your physician. Your policy only becomes effective when underwriting is completed and the insurer has agreed to issue a policy. You may see your physician after the effective date.

My spouse is losing his/her job and won’t have insurance. When can I add him/her to my health insurance?

If you have group insurance, you may add you spouse during the open enrollment period. But for individual insurance, you may submit you spouse’s application and proceed through the enrollment process at any time.

How do I change health plans?

Each year during the open enrollment period, you may elect to change your health plan carrier under group insurance. You may change your plan at anytime if you have individual insurance.
Are there preexisting condition limitations if I change health plans?
There is no preexisting condition limitation under your new plan when you transfer plans under group insurance. Any condition for which you are receiving treatment prior to your coverage change will be covered immediately by your new plan.

What happens to my health insurance when I retire?

This can be a scary situation. Retirement typically means you are older and may have a possible accumulation of preexisting conditions, which could make you uninsurable, or your preexisting conditions could be excluded. Meaning, you suddenly have to cover the cost of expensive meds or care. Fortunately, Colorado is one of 26 states that provide a safety net through a high risk uninsurable pool. If you have had coverage within 60 days, your preexisting conditions are covered immediately. Otherwise your preexisting conditions will be covered within six months as long as you are a resident of Colorado. You may find further information about this type of coverage at www.covercolorado.org.

What happens to my health insurance when I resign from a job?

You are entitled to continue the health coverage for up to 18 months under a Federal law referred to as COBRA. Cost of coverage is borne fully by the employee.

We will be having a child soon. How do I add this child to my health and dental insurance coverage?

You may notify and add new born children within 30 days of their birth date. Adopted children may be added after they fill out an application and go through the enrollment process.

When it comes to insurance, individual health care plans can be expensive depending on the options that you want. The most affordable health plans will be found through a group plan that is offered by most employers, but not everyone can take advantage of this. If you are self-employed or unemployed, you will have to use other alternatives for insurance coverage.

Insurance is something that I dislike. You pay for years and may never use it, but just trying being without it and needing it. I would rather pay into the plan for years and not use it than not have it and need it. When it comes to your health, all you need is one accident or catastrophic illness and you will be facing a medical bill in excess of $10,000 and in many cases it will actually be a lot higher than that.

Individual health insurance is actually quite easy to get and comes in a variety of prices and plans. It is just a matter of searching through the available plans and finding the one that best fits your needs, both medically and budget wise. Most websites enable you to both compare the available plans and apply from the same page.

You will find there is no shortage of private insurance plans. Insurance is something that should not be taken lightly. You should be covered at all times. If you are getting ready to purchase COBRA, you may want to take the time to get a free quote for a private plan. You may be surprised at how competitive these private insurance plans can be. Take some time to find out what is available and then get the protection that you need.

Individual health care insurance is all about protecting your family and the things that you own. The same can be said for any type of insurance. It will help you avoid the cost of an unforeseen incident. It can be difficult sometimes to write that check each month because you are paying for something that might happen.

However, if you don’t pay to avoid that risk, you could easily find yourself thousands of dollars in debt over an incident that was unplanned. The only way you can avoid the possibility of financial devastation is to have the proper insurance to protect you financially, when these incidents do occur. It is never a smart decision to be without the necessary insurance coverage.

Now it is easier than ever before for an individual to shop for insurance coverage. It can be done online from the convenience of your home. You do not need a salesperson that is trying to sell you something that may not be right for you. It is as easy as entering your *** and your age. The search will return a list of insurance plans, along with what they include and how much they cost. It doesn’t get any easier than this.

These insurance companies will all have names that you recognize and it is easy to compare one plan against another. Once you have found that medical plan that meets your needs and fit your budget, you can fill out a short application form and you will have coverage in a minimal amount of time. It all begins by going online and getting a free quote.

We’ve all heard the adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, yet it often seems that most people ignore this advice. Otherwise people would not be dying from smoking-related cancers and the plethora of illnesses caused by obesity. It’s easy to say that these are personal problems and that people need to take better care of themselves. But it’s worth considering whether the insurance industry has any moral obligation to do more in terms of preventing major illnesses before they manifest symptoms in people.

Most of our business is individual/family health insurance in Colorado, and we are very familiar with all of the major policies offered in Colorado. In the PPO market, we have been conditioned to think that if a health insurance company is offering $300 or $500 in preventative care each year, they are providing “great preventative benefits.” By Colorado law, all policies are required to cover mammograms for women and PSA exams for men, with no deductible. That’s it as far as what insurance companies HAVE to cover. Notice that pap smears are not on the list. Nor are colonoscopies or blood screenings or stress tests. If you have a policy with a $300 annual limit on preventative care, it’s pretty easy to use that up with one pap smear and a basic check up. It would be nice to think that everyone is concerned enough about their health that they would be willing to save enough money to pay for their own colonoscopies (not a cheap procedure) and dermatologist skin screenings. However, I think we all know that it’s not likely to be something that a significant number of people can or will pay for themselves. Instead, most people who don’t have insurance coverage for these things (especially the expensive ones) just don’t get them done.

Without considering the moral obligations of companies whose job is to pay for healthcare, why not consider the financial ramifications of paying for preventative care. In the past, many diseases were nowhere near as treatable as they are today. Some diseases that were considered terminal even 10 years ago, now have longer survival rates and in some cases can become manageable chronic conditions. Let’s look at this as a purely numbers-based issue (a bit morbid considering it’s peoples’ lives we’re discussing, but I understand that insurance is a business). 15 years ago, perhaps it made financial sense for insurance companies to limit coverage for preventative care. That way, illnesses wouldn’t be detected until they were at an advanced stage, and sadly enough, the person might die before the health insurance carrier had paid out much money for treatment. If the disease had been caught early, the health insurance company would have likely paid much more for the treatment. With all of the advancements in medical technology, even diseases that are caught in later stages today often have a decent prognosis, and treatment can add years to patients’ lives.

So insurance companies will be paying for extended treatment whether the disease is caught early or not. And often the treatment for advanced-stage diseases is much more expensive than it would have been had the condition been caught early (for example, consider the cost of open-heart surgery versus a regimen to lower cholesterol before the problem warrants a quadruple bypass). Removing colon polyps detected early through a colonoscopy is much less expensive than treatment for colon cancer, yet colonoscopies are almost never covered by Colorado health insurance companies. This seems counter-productive. Doesn’t it make more sense for the health insurance carrier to pay for the colonoscopy (since very few people will pay for this themselves) and then the small cost of removing polyps, instead of paying for chemo, radiation and radical surgery?

I believe that if health insurance carriers devoted significantly more resources to paying for regular preventative care, they would eventually save money on the big-ticket treatments that result when undetected small problems turn into big problems.

What you need to know about finding good health care at an affordable rate.

There is a tremendous need in the US for a better Health Care system. In fact the cost of our Nations Health Care continues to rise at an alarming rate. The purpose of this article though, is not to dwell on the failing aspects of our Nation’s health care system, but rather point to what solutions there are.

There are really two factors to consider when choosing a plan.

1. Cost

2.Coverage

One of the biggest draw backs you may find to traditional health insurance, is the cost.

In fact, national surveys suggest that the primary reason people are uninsured is the high cost of health insurance coverage.This unfortunately is almost always the case.

As Health insurance rates in the United States continue to rise, there are no immediate signs of any reduction in premiums.

Which leads us to a very smart alternative… “Consumer Driven Health Care” (CDHC).

Simply put: The idea behind this movement, is to significantly reduce the cost of treatments,

by providing a set discounted price for members of CDHC programs.

The major advantage to a CDHC program: is that it is affordable for just about anyone, & that it is reliable.

Members never have to deal with filling out forms, or qualifying for certain procedures.

However there are some variations to these programs that are less desirable than others.

It’s important that if your considering this kind of a health care plan, you look for a well established Company with a large provider base.

Why is this important?

Because providers (Doctors, Dentist, Pharmacies…) of CDHC programs who have agreed to a set price for members, are the only locations in which the programs will be accepted.

If you wish to learn more about health care services available to you, please Click Here

I hope this information has proved to be of some assistance to you.

Best regards to you and your family.

Every society is affected by any national changes or new movement introduced; therefore, an issue one may think is unrelated to his environment can very well affect him through chains of cause and effect.

Health care is an immediate issue that concerns all of us. We all experience it and need it. Let’s serious ask ourselves if the current health care system is satisfactory and available to everyone. Should health, medicare and treatments be available to only selected groups? Many people are voting for the presidential candidate who can restore the present health care system or who can pioneer a better healthcare distribution for our country. Personally, I hope to see a change that health care is available and affordable to everyone.

Being able to receive basic health care is a fundamental need of all people. Fulfilling this fundamental need makes people feel secured, and it makes sense that people with better health can contribute more to the society. A realistic and reachable standard of health should be set for all people. This effort needs a non profit driving entity to establish and to maintain it. People’s life and health should not be compromised for the profit of few organizations.

Before moving to Japan, I was covered under my parents’ insurance policy in the United States. Their policy covered children of the family until the age of twenty-four. Upon graduating from university, I moved to Japan and started my first job there. I joined the Japanese national health insurance through the company I worked for. There are basically two types of health insurance in Japan: national health insurance and employer-sponsored health insurance. Usually, under employer sponsored insurance, the insurance premium is calculated according to income, number of dependents, and the company’ subsidies. For someone who is self-employed or unemployed, the national health insurance costs a minimum of 13300 yen, or about $110 per month plus a small percentage of income for those who are self-employed. In other words, everyone can get insurance from around $100 dollars a month. Unlike the Medicaid program in the U.S. which is only available to certain low-income groups with specific requirements for eligibility, the Japanese health insurance is available to every citizen and legal residents. There is a ceiling to what the Japanese National insurance covers, but it covers all the basics and beyond.

In most cases in Japan, patients choose their doctor and hospital. There is no limitation to the doctors or hospital they can visit. This is a true competition among the clinics, hospitals, and medical practitioners, not for profit, but for quality. The same insurance that people have in Japan gives them the freedom to get second opinions and naturally eliminates those doctors whose practices are in question. The doctor visits, treatments, and medicine are not free; one is responsible for thirty percent of their medical bills. Japanese health costs are much lower than the costs in the United States. Thirty percent of the medical bill is still a reasonable amount one can afford. There are also special cases or categories of illness for which the insurance would give more coverage. If one is late on his payment, his insurance will not automatically be invalid. The insurance will still cover the person as long as he makes up the missed payments. After all, some people do run into difficulties in life at one point or another. Sounds to good to be true? Well, It’s real.

Taiwan, a place with no world recognition politically, has one of the top public health care system in the world. After moving to Taiwan due to my husband’s transfer a year a go, I learned and appreciated the system where universal or national health care is available to all more than ever. When speaking of universal, national, or pubic health insurance, people often turn their attention to the well-debated and discussed health care system in Canada. There are those whose views are negative, claiming that the medical service in a single-payer insurance system may not perform at its ultimate, and those whose views are positive, saying that they do not live in fear of ever having to face bankruptcy for outrageous medical bills. From my informal inquiries, more Canadian I came across favor their national health care system. Most of those who favor their national health care system commented that people of Canada are more secured in having their basic physical and psychological needs met.

In Taiwan, there is also government-sponsored universal health care for not only their citizens but also for foreign residents who live in Taiwan. Foreign residents can apply for the government-sponsored insurance after proving their legal status of residing in Taiwan. The insurance fee starts from the basic 600NT, or around $18 a month. For people in higher income brackets, their insurance is calculated based on a percentage of their income over the 600Nt. Fees are waived for retired soldiers, those who are physically challenged, and people who have economic disadvantages.

Interestingly, Taiwan’s national health insurance has only been established for little more than two decades, since 1985. The government policy-makers studied health care system from different foreign countries and composes the first Taiwan national health care from the ideas and methods of the system of other countries. It was said that Taiwan’s national insurance system is like a completed puzzle made from pieces of which fit its country and people. This insurance now covers the entire population, including foreign legal residents. According to research funded by Taiwan’s National Health Research and Taiwan’s Bureau of National Health Insurance, the cost of health care did not rise after the universal coverage was established (Jui-Fen & Hsiao, 2003.) What does that tell us?

A basic health care program can greatly reduce the consequences of illness left untreated. Basic health care does not mean free of charge or mindless spending without control. To build a healthy nation, we should take a closer look at the current U.S. health insurance. After all, a sound nation starts with the health of its people.

You might be wondering if affordable health insurance services are just a fable or whether they are actually available. Most people know about the increasing medical treatment costs, but the sad fact is that few can take any concrete steps to address their health insurance problems. The prices of essential commodities have risen like never before and most people spend their entire monthly earning on the same, leaving them with hardly any balance to foot their health insurance premiums. It is in such situations that organizations like Premier Health Care come to the fore.

With such organization by your side, you need not worry about the future of your health and also do not have to bother about your medical expenses if and when any ailment strikes you. While people do not think twice before spending money on other things, they ponder and take time to decide about opting in for health insurance plans for themselves. However, one cannot blame such persons. The costs of health care insurance have escalated in the recent past without offering sufficient coverage.

Read the fine print of most health care insurance organizations and you will find that there are many hidden clauses that end up making you the loser in many circumstances. Is this what health care insurance all about? When you are paying a decent sum of money, you should expect a decent policy that covers all, if not most, of your health related issues. Sadly, most agencies do not bother to thing about your health. They are too busy earning money by selling you health insurance plans that are of no use to you when you require it the most. However, this is not the case with certain affordable health care services like Premier.

Health insurance is very expensive to have but it is important in case you need to go to the hospital. It is better if you can get low cost health insurance through your employer because with a group plan you will always save more money that an individual one.

Make sure that you check around for health insurance price quotes before making a decision because you may be able to find a low cost alternative to what is available at work. It is easy to search for insurance quotes online and this will help you to narrow down your decision on which provider to use.

Having good quality healthcare insurance coverage is important because you never know when you might get sick and need to go to the doctor or the hospital. Not having coverage can leave you broke and owning a lot of money because one visit to an emergency room can totally wipe you out financially.

We never know when out health may fail us or we catch an infection and having good health insurance coverage can save you from financial ruin. Always compare price and go with the best health care coverage at the lowest price you can find.

Remember that getting low cost insurance is important but you also want to make sure that the policy covers you in case anything happens. Some insurers will give you a low cost but the policy does not cover much and this is not going to do you any good when you need quality service.